Capella University Faculty Member Named President of American Psychological Association's Society of Military Psychology

Share Article

Dr. Will Wilson is a faculty chair in the online university's Harold Abel School of Psychology

It's more important than ever to educate mental health professionals about the psychological issues faced by many servicemembers returning from combat in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other operations. We have to take action to help these servicemembers. It's a national responsibility that we all need to address

Minneapolis (PRWEB)August 20, 2008

Will Wilson, PhD, a faculty chair with Capella University (http://www.capella.edu), an accredited*, fully online university, has been named president of the American Psychological Association's Society of Military Psychology (Division 19). Dr. Wilson, a retired U.S. Army colonel and current faculty chair for Industrial/ Organizational Psychology with Capella's Harold Abel School of Psychology, assumed the duties at the APA annual conference, held last week in Boston.

The Society of Military Psychology is a division of APA for psychologists who share a common interest in psychological issues related to servicemembers and their families. The Society's responsibilities include developing continuing education and conference seminars designed to share information related to military psychology with the wider psychology community.

"It's more important than ever to educate mental health professionals about the psychological issues faced by many servicemembers returning from combat in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other operations. We have to take action to help these servicemembers. It's a national responsibility that we all need to address," said Dr. Wilson. In recent months, Wilson has been serving as spokesperson for the Joining Forces America study, a Capella University-sponsored study of mental health and re-entry issues of returning servicemembers and the readiness of the mental health community to meet their needs.

A widely quoted expert on military mental health issues, Dr. Wilson draws on a lifetime of military experience in his new role with the Society, beginning with a military childhood, graduation from West Point, and service in Vietnam with the Special Forces. After returning from Vietnam, he taught at West Point, where his achievements included establishing the Cadet Counseling Center and the Center for Leadership & Personal Development. While in the service, he earned his MS in Experimental Psychology and his PhD in Clinical Psychology, and served as a military psychologist with such duties as therapeutic counseling, command consultations, leadership development, and clinic administration. He retired with the rank of colonel in 1992, and has continued his focus on military psychology, organizational leadership development, and higher education through his roles with the APA, Capella University, and other organizations.

About Capella University
Capella University (http://www.capella.edu) is an accredited*, fully online university that has built its reputation providing quality graduate education for working adults. Eighty-three percent of Capella students are currently enrolled in master's or doctoral degree programs in business, information technology, education, human services, psychology, public health, and public safety. Capella also offers bachelor's degree programs in business, information technology, and public safety. Within those areas, Capella currently offers 109 graduate and undergraduate specializations and 15 certificate programs. More than 23,700 learners were enrolled as of June 30, 2008, from all 50 states and 45 other countries. Capella is committed to providing high-caliber academic excellence and pursuing balanced business growth. Founded in 1993, Capella University is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Capella Education Company, headquartered in Minneapolis. For more information, please visit http://www.capella.edu or call 1-888-CAPELLA (227-3552).

Capella University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), http://www.ncahlc.org.